Fuse



W. L. CLAY AND J. W. TAYLOR.

FUSE. v

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, i919. 1,380,774. PatentedJune 7,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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FUSE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE30. |919. l f 1 ,380,774, l Patented June 7, 1921.

2 SHEET SSSSSS 2.

Nlrsosrarss Artur Fries.'

WALLACE L. CLAY, F BRIDESBUBG, AND J'OH w. TAyLoit, or rmxronn,

, rENirsYLvAmA. LUsn Application led .Tune 80,

secmcation of Letters Patent. Patented J une 7, 1921.

1919. Serial No. 807,796.

` (FILED man m'Acror nAncn s', 188s, 2z sur. L., sas.)

' royalty thereon.

he general object of this invention is to provide a fuse for anexplosive bullet which will be of extreme simplicity of construction andof great eiiciency in operation, and to this end resides in certaincombinations and arrangements of structural parts, as will be clearlyhereinafter pointed out. A

Other objects will appear as the specification proceeds and the natureof the invention is more fully disclosed.

.With these objects in view, the invention resides, generally stated, inan explosive bullet provlded with a fuse having a floating striker, the'inner or supporting surfaces thereof occupying a position in theair-wave having a greater pressurethan the position occupled -by thevexterior or retarding sur faces thereof.

The invention also resides in providing a firing-pin disposed relativeto the primer so that the normal clearance therebetween is so small thatchattering or vibration of the striker is prevented.

The invention further resides 4in safety members, normally holding thefiring-pin in unarmed' position, provided with inclined .end facesseating on a conical 'seatysaid safety members remaining in safeposition, while the projectile is in the bore of the gun, solely under'theiniuence of linear acceleration, due to their own weight, the centerof avity of the locking 'members being well 1n toward the center, so"that centrlfugah force is overcome by the linear acceleratlon `j v head8 1s cr1m ed .or spun around the neck without the aid of superimposedweights:

The invention also resides in a pecullar and novel construction of afiring-,pin pro.-

vided with a xed collar intermediate its len fh, safety members, andalso forms a bearing surface for the superimposed firing-pin holder, aswill be more clearly understood by the hereinafter detailed descriptionof the drawings;

which supports thef-pin against the The invention also resides incertain felicitous constructions, combinations and arrangements ofparts, as will be hereinafter fully explained.

The accompanying drawings clearly disclose an exemplary embodiment of.the underlylng rinciples of 4 our invention. Brlefly descri ed Figure 1is a longitudinal diametric section of an explosive bullet equippedwith. the fuse. constituting our invention; l

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 isa view similar to Fig. 1 of an alternate construction of an 11sive bullet;

Fig. l is a transverse section on the line 4.-'-4, Fig. 3; and A Fig. 5is a. longitudinal diametric section of a 37 fuse, showing theapplication of our invention thereto;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line 6 6, Fig. 5.

Referring, now, in detail to the drawings, and first, to Figs. 1 and 2thereof:

1 designates the hollow lbullet body containing a suitable explosivecharge 2 (the character of which may be varied in accord# ance with thework to be obtained) andthe booster charge A3, the latter being held ina suitable rupturable container or cup4 seated, at its inner end,against an'annular shoulder 4 in the bore interiorly of the bullet body.The open top of the container or cup is closed by a disk5 to preventspilling of the booster charge. fn spot light work, it may bepreferable-to provide a loose base plug 6 removably held in place in asuitable manner against accidental removal.

' ,The bullet body 1, is provided, at its open end -with a neck 7 havingan inclined outer sur ace. One end of an elongated hollow mm. explo- 7and: is there y held to the'bullet body 1,

y disk 5.

Normally seated in a truncated, coneshaped recess 14 in the outer faceof the block 11 are safety members 15, having correspondingly beveledsurfaces at one end bearing agalnst theinclined seat 14. These safetymembers may be in the form ofsegments, and while, in this instance, twothereof are shown, it is obvious that more. may be used, if desired.From the standpoint of simplicity and economy of manufacture, it isadvantageous to use but two. Each of these segments is provided with acircumferential groovel, 1n which is disposed a helical spring 17tending to hold the segments together, against separation. The segmentsare grooved throughout their depth, on the surface adjacent thefiring-pin 19, to conform to the cross sectional contour. of the latter,as shown at 18.

That portlon of the firing-pin, which ex- A tends from the collar 20 tothe end thereof opposite the penetrating end 21, projects into the axialbore 22 of a irin -pin holder 23 terminating, at its outer enr 1n anoutwardly arin vhead. 24 having a plurality of symmetrica ly arrangedholes 25, preferably four thereof being used. (Jarried by said head, atits outer end, is an inturned, cross sectionally annular skirt or flange26, rovided with aplurality of radial holes 2 ,preferably 4 thereofbeing used. The holes/27 are preferably given an effective area of twicethat of the holes 25.

The skirt 26 may be provided, at its free end, with an outturned,circumferential lip 28, and the free end of the head 8 maybe similarlyprovided with an inturned lip 29.

The lip 28,by engaging the lip 29, limits forward movement of thefiring-pin holder 23.

The firing-pin holder 23, as well as the ring-pin 19, is preferablyconstructed of aluminum. l Y

It will be noted that thevilaring construc' tion of the head 24 of thefiring-pin holder j provides a cavity* 30.

The operation is as follows When thbullet is fired in a gun, the inertiaof the safety segments 15-15, due toA the linear acceleration of theprojectile, holds rthe segments against outward .movement on thel seat14 in the primer housing 11. It is obviouslyneoessary to retain thesesegments inthesafety position as long as these segrw ments are in thebore of the gun, as long as. linear acceleration is taking place,votherwise a premature explosion will be caused by the set-back of thestriker' (comprising the firing-pin 19 Vand the firing-pin holder 23).

These segments are designedto obtain this result. The additional inertiaof the'su rimposed striker is negligible, because o its light weight. j

' Therefore, in order that the linear inertia moments shall be greaterthan the centrifugal moments,l the center of gravity of the ,j segmentsis brought well in toward the center, so that the moments tending tohold the segments Aback in their seat are reater than the momentstending to throw t e segments out. As soon as linear accelerationceases, which is after the bullet leaves the muzzle of the rifle, thecentrifugal force throws the segments out. These segments, under theaction of centrifugal force, expand their conlnin spring 17 andleavetheir seat bv tilting s ightly and moving the striker slightly away fromthe primer 11. They then move out Vtoward the wall ,of the head 8, andare held out of the way in this position by centrifugal force. Theshoulder 20 of the firing-pin 19 is then unsupported, and the striker isfree to act upon impact.

lnflight, the bullet creates avpressure in going through the air. Thispressure 1s 1n the form of a wave, and, like all waves, the intensity ofSpressure in the wave varles esr throughout its depth. This bow wave isnot simply formed by the point, but is also formed by the entire headand body of the projectile. yThe air rushes into the holes 25 and 27 ofthe firing-pin holder 23 and forms a cushion for supporting this holder.The

interior pressure is thus built up to the maximum exterior. pressure.The radial holes 27 are given a greater area than the axial holes 25, asabove explained. This is not onlyfto prevent an increase of resistanceof the striker upon impact. The bow wave formed by the projectile inflight and the maximum pressure in th1s wave is a little way back fromthe extreme polnt due to the ogival shape of the projectile head. Thisthrows the interior ov the fuse into communication with the maximum wavepressure, and keeps the striker floating on the air wave. Any tendencyto throw the striker out of .this floating balance will be liable tocause a premature explosion, by

driving the striker onto the prlmer. Any tendency of the striker tochatter would also be liable to cause a premature explosion .if thevibration is sufficient to ive the striker the required energy to fire te lr1mer. In order to prevent any vibration o the striker fromdeveloping, the clearance between the ring-pin and the primer is kept toa miniassente Upon encountering any resistance, such as an airplane wingor balloon, the external force is increased and overcomes the internalpressure, besides cutting off the supply of air necessar to maintain theinternal .pressure, thus riving the firing-pin holder 23 inward, or `stoping it in relation' to the movement of t e remainder of the bullet,

and -causing the firing-pin to penetrate the primer 9, which explodesand, in turn, :throu h the booster 3, detonates the explo sive c arge 2,fragmenting the base of the bullet. Any obstruction that will interruptthe continuity of the bow'waveof the projectile will function the fuse,as the striker will then be robbed of its supporting air pressure, andtle external pressure'will instantly jam back the striker onto theprimer. Rain and snow do not interfere with the formation of theatmospheric wave and, therefore, do not interfere with the actionof thefuse,` though the fuse is sulciently sensitive to function on a lightsheet of cloth.

The simplicity of our fuse is emphasized by the fact that it has madepracticable its pplication to projectiles as small as 30 caliber servicebullets. Figs. 3 and 4 disclose an alternate construction of our 11mm.explosive bullet. In this construction, instead of making the bullet andits elongated head in two parts', we make them integralo 1' is thehollow body'of the bullet and 8? is the elongated head formed integralwith the body l. The

head 8 is provided interiorly, at the end thereof adjoining bullet body1', with an annular shoulder or ledge 3l. The inner rthe washer surfaceof the wall of the ahead 8 is tapered, being of least width at the freeend of the head. A tubular liner 32 is carried within the head 8 andsnugly lits the same. This liner is of a length nearly equal to that ofthe head 8 and bears at its inner end upon a centrally apertured washer13 disposed on said ledge 3l. Adjacent said washer and inside of saidliner 32 is a primer holder l1', in a recess of which is seated theprimer 9 held from spilling by disks 33 and 34 disposed respectivelyagainst the bottom of said recess in the primer holder 1l and betweenthe inner end face of said holder and 13. The safety segments 15-15, thefiring pin 19 carrying the collar 20, and the ring-pin holder 23" withits head 24 and skirt 26 are the same as the corresponding parts in thedevice of Figs. l and 2.

Figs. 5 and 5 disclose a )construction of a 37 mm. fuse with theprinciples of our invention applied thereto. In this construction, 37designates the externally threaded fuse body provided, at onesend, withan internally .threaded socket 38, in which is threaded 'the cup 39,containing an explosive charge 40., Internally of this cup 39 is asecond-cup 41 provided, at its mouth, withl an outtmned annular flange42, bearing against a centrally apertured washer 43 in the bottom of thesocket 38. The second cup 4l contains an ex lesive charge 42.

When the larger cup 39 1s screwed fully into the socket 38, the wall ofthe mouth thereof bears against the flange 42 of thexsmaller cup 41,:thus holding the latter firmlg in position. Axially of the body 37, isisposed the primer 44. The fuse body 37 is pro-4 parts in the devicesheretofore describe The fuse body 37 is provided, at the endthereofadjacent the head 45, with a tapering recess 52, for the reception ofthe inclined Afaces of the safety segments 46-46. Having thus fullydescribed our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure byLetters vPatent is i.' ln a fuse for projectiles, the combination withthe primer, of a liring-pin, safety means for'normally maintaining thefiringpin in unarmed position, a firing-pin holder having a tubular stemwithin which said firing-pin projects, a hea-d at one end of said stemprovided with air inlet apertures, and a tubular flange extendingcircumferentially of said head for guiding the holder durin longitudinalmotion thereof.

' 2. lgn a fuse for projectiles, the combination with the primer, of atiring-pin, safety means normally maintaining the firing-pin in unarmedposition, a firing-pin holder having a tubular Stem within which saidfiring-pin projects, a head at one end of said stem provided with airinlet apertures, and a tubular flange extending. circumferentially ofsaid head, and provided with air inlet apertures, whereby the firing-pinis maintained in close proximity to the primer, after the release ofsaid safety means, by the balanced internal and external air pressure onsaid head, v

3. in a fuse for projectiles, the combination with the primer, of afiring-pm provided with a xed collar intermediate its lengh, safetymembers normally contacting with said collar. and maintaining thefiringpin in unarmed position, a firing-pin holder having a tubular stemwithin which said.

firing-pin projects, a head at one end of said stem provided with airinlet apertures, and

tion with the primer, of a ringfpin, safety mechanism normallymaintaining the firingpin in unarmed position, a firing-pin holdercomprising a tubular stem into one end of which the ring-.pin projectsand' a head at the other end of said stem, having on its exterior face apocket against which the air impinges in the passage of the projectilethrough the atmosphere and a tubular flange lextending circumferentiallyof said head and provided with air inlet apertures for supplying an airpressure on the interior of said holder.

5. In a fuse for projectiles, the combination with the primer, ing pinholder for carrying having oneend provided with air apertures, and atubular flange extending circumferentially of said head having airapertures, whereb said holder is maintained in floating position by theinternal and external air pressures thereon, generated during the flightof the projectile.

WALLACE L. CLAY.

JOHN W. TAYLOR.

of a firing-pin, a firthe firing-pin

